Young, talented and driven: Meet 10 O.C. whiz kids

March 23, 2016

Updated 12:20 p.m.

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Looking at this year's impressive Orange County whiz kids, a theme emerges. So many of these students are doing philanthropic work, giving back via causes they hold dear. And they aren't simply donating time or money to a charity; they're creating their own platforms and foundations. REGISTER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Looking at this year's impressive Orange County whiz kids, a theme emerges. So many of these students are doing philanthropic work, giving back via causes they hold dear. And they aren't simply donating time or money to a charity; they're creating their own platforms and foundations.REGISTER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Looking at this year’s impressive whiz kids, a theme emerges. So many of these students are doing philanthropic work, giving back via causes they hold dear. And they aren’t simply donating time or money to a charity; they’re creating their own platforms and foundations.

An artist sells her paintings to further education. A singer uses her huge online following to work against bullying. A young boy collects thousands of Legos for kids in Africa. A girl affected by domestic violence holds workshops for other girls and sells clothes to support her cause.

You get the idea. These Orange County kids care about important things and aren’t waiting to grow up to enact change.

Gloria Bates

Age: 17

City: Anaheim

School: Orange Lutheran High School

Grade: 12

Why she is a whiz kid: Named 2015 CIF-SS Division 3A player of the year in basketball, Orange Lutheran’s 2015 AP chemistry student of the year.

It might not be readily apparent how much basketball and science have in common, but for Bates, the similarities are obvious.

“Science is a team-oriented field, just like basketball is a team effort,” she explained. “Each team member has to know their strengths and weaknesses. And you have to work on getting better at your weaknesses.”

Bates remembers her mother teaching her how to shoot baskets when she was 5. She grew up around the game and got her start playing basketball at the YMCA. Fast-forward to high school, and Bates made the varsity team at Orange Lutheran as a sophomore. But it was in her junior year, last season, when the forward made her mark on the program and in the county.

After leading the Lancers to a championship, Gloria was named the division player of the year.

“Gloria really stepped up for us and became someone everyone turned to,” said her coach, Tom Howard. “She’s the hardest worker on the team.”

“I love learning about how things work, establishing rules and seeing how nature breaks them,” Bates said. “Science, to me, is not just fixing things. It’s coming together to join the battle of discovery.”

Gloria’s interests and accomplishments don’t stop there. She enjoys studying Latin and was named the school’s AP Latin student of the month in November 2015.

She loves to write poetry and contributes to King Author, a literary collection published by the school.

Gloria also is a member of the California Scholarship Federation as well as the National Honor Society.

Grateful for the chance to explore all of her interests, Gloria will be attending Claremont McKenna College, where she will continue with basketball while studying biochemistry.

“I don’t think there are many student-athletes who can match Gloria’s level of athletics, academics and extracurricular achievement,” Howard said. “She’s going to leave quite a legacy.”

Micah Slentz

Age: 10

City: Laguna Niguel

School: Viejo Elementary School

Grade: 4

Why he is a whiz kid: Started Lego Africa, which takes Lego toy donations and distributes them to children in African schools.

A brief but meaningful conversation between Micah and his father while standing inside a Lego store set in motion an idea that is creating new opportunities for kids halfway around the world.

Micah, 6 at the time, was asking for yet another Lego set to add to his large collection. His dad, Sequoia Slentz, said no.

“I was a normal O.C. kid, always wanting more,” Micah said. “My dad said there were kids in other countries who didn’t have any Legos. Next time we went to the store, I asked if I could send some Legos to kids in Africa.”

As a promoter and manager for several comedians from “The Howard Stern Show,” Sequoia Slentz asked for Lego donations from fans in exchange for backstage passes to Stern’s show. That, combined with Facebook requests and word of mouth, brought in close to 100 pounds of Legos.

Micah partnered with the charity Child Africa, the donated Legos made their way to students at a school in Uganda, and Lego Africa (legoafrica.com) was born.

“The kids were amazed. They were so grateful,” Micah recalled. “Legos are more than just a toy. Legos build your mind.”

Micah and his dad made their own trip to Uganda last December, bringing 300 pounds of donated Legos. The visit opened Micah’s eyes not only to the effect Legos are having on the kids, but also about how Lego Africa might be able to provide meal programs and other support for schools and communities.

Micah’s plans for Lego Africa include making biannual trips to the continent, continuing to distribute donated Legos and furthering the reach of the nonprofit.

“To see kids playing with something for the very first time, they were getting to experience childhood,” Sequoia said. “These toys expand their imagination. It’s going to impact their whole lives.”

Zach Marks

Age: 15

City: San Clemente

School: Home-schooled

Grade: 9

Why he is a whiz kid: Created a social media site for kids called Grom Social that has more than 2 million members worldwide.

Curiosity, a bit of defiance and an idea to fill a void are what motivated Marks.

As a very tech-savvy 11-year-old, Marks set up his own Facebook account – twice. His dad thought he was too young and quickly shut them down.

“We got into a huge argument,” Marks said, “and I told my dad that I should start a Facebook for kids. He said, ‘Good luck with that.’”

Marks and his siblings created the basic characters and concept for a social media site where kids would be welcome. He borrowed $2,500 from his older brother Luke, who was 13 but already a professional surfer, and collaborated with a web designer to create the graphics and website.

Grom Social (gromsocial.com) allows tweens and teens to experience a social community in a safe and supportive environment. It’s similar to Facebook, with features such as the ability to post photos and chat with other members. It also allows users to create characters and take advantage of exclusive content.

Four years after its launch, the site has more than 2 million members, representing almost every country..

Grom Social is monitored around the clock by employees who filter out inappropriate content and promote anti-bullying messages. There is also a Parent Portal that allows parents to monitor their children’s activity. “We want to teach kids about social responsibility and how to be safe,” Zach Marks said.

As founder and creator, Zach drives the creative direction of the site as well as new technology developments and future monetization. He plans to continue to grow Grom Social and the 30-plus employee company behind it while exploring the possibility of going public. He also will continue his speaking efforts at schools and conferences worldwide as well as participate in a reality show.

“I’m more excited now than when I first started,” Zach said. “I look back now and I’m grateful I’ve been able to see my vision come to life.”

They call him the One-Armed Wonder, and indeed, Flores was born with only his left arm fully functional. But he doesn’t let that stop him from playing the sport he loves: baseball. “It’s a disability, but I don’t see it as a disability,” Flores said.

Nephtali’s right arm is a 12-inch limb with a single, long digit. He uses that limb to help hold his glove while he transfers the baseball to his throwing hand, a move he does in one fluid motion.

When he was 5, he asked his parents if he could try out for Little League. A bit unsure, they gave him a chance, and Flores made the team. He now plays for both the Angels RBI Senior team and the varsity team at Santa Ana High.

As starting center fielder for the Santa Ana Saints, as well as a relief pitcher, back-up catcher and first baseman, Flores proudly wears No. 1 on his jersey. This second-year varsity player also bats in the leadoff position, swinging with just his left arm. He uses his speed to help post numbers like .346, his batting average last season as a junior.

He’s watched countless videos of Jim Abbott, the former pitcher born without a right hand who played 11 seasons in the major leagues, including two stints with the Angels.

“If he could make it that far, I think I could do the same,” Flores said of how Abbott inspires him.

Nephtali’s goal is to continue to play baseball after high school. He plans to attend junior college before transferring to Cal State Fullerton, where he hopes to play for the Titans while studying engineering or arts and animation.

For people with disabilities who may be unsure about trying something new, Flores advises not letting perceived barriers stand in the way.

“They should go out and try,” he said, “because anything can happen.”

Cassandra Hsiao

Age:16

City: Walnut

School: Orange County School of the Arts

Grade: 11

Why she is a whiz kid: Writes movie and book reviews for several teen websites and publications; also a journalist and entertainment reporter.

Her second-grade teacher inspired Hsiao to become a writer. “Once, after reading a story out loud to the class, she told me that I could be an author. I’ve never stopped writing since then,” Hsiao said.

This early love for storytelling sparked a budding career as an entertainment reporter, which has given her the opportunity to interview some of the biggest names in show business. At 11, Hsiao was one of 50 students across the country selected to be part of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps, for which she served a yearlong term covering mostly Hollywood and entertainment stories. Her first assignment had her chatting up Justin Bieber at the red carpet premiere of his movie “Never Say Never.”

Today, Hsiao’s writing and videos can be found at several teen-based sites: crixit.com, where she serves as movie editor; teenreads.com, where she writes book reviews; fanlala.com; BYOU magazine; and LA Times High School Insider, where she reports and produces video segments on movie and entertainment news.

Hsiao doesn’t let her age stand in the way of getting time with the stars.

“Sometimes I’ll get the odd glances or patronizing looks,” she said, “but that just motivates me to do better.”

While Cassandra definitely sees entertainment reporting in her future, she would like to explore a different form of writing in college, possibly screenplays and poetry. But Cassandra knows she won’t stray too far from the bright lights of Hollywood.

“It’s amazing that people decide what to read or see based on my words or what I say,” Cassandra said. “The power words can have in the media is just incredible.”

Christopher Lembo

Age: 18

City: Anaheim

School: Servite High School

Grade: 12

Why he is a whiz kid: Named 2015 Anaheim youth of the year for starting a club on campus called SIGN (Service in God’s Name) to support special-needs kids and adults through volunteering and fundraising.

After discovering his passion for helping the special-needs community, Lembo wasn’t satisfied with just giving his own time. He wanted to get others involved too. So he started SIGN.

Lembo, a varsity basketball player, used his love of sports as a way to reach the special-needs community, partnering with sports organizations such as TOPSoccer, Miracle League of Orange County and Yorba Linda Basketball Challenger Division.

He spent most of his sophomore year establishing a foundation for the club. Now, two years later, there are 50 regular attendees at meetings and about a dozen volunteers that come out each Saturday and Sunday to serve as “buddies” and play baseball, basketball and soccer with kids and adults.

In addition to helping on the field, SIGN holds events to raise money for nonprofit groups including Autism Speaks and the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County.

“I’ve learned so much about myself. Above all, humility,” Lembo said. “I’ve learned to thank God, and I’ve grown in my faith through all of this.”

His plans for college include majoring in engineering with a minor in business. In the future, Christopher says he might want to start a nonprofit similar to SIGN, but on a much larger scale. His hopes for SIGN are that the club will continue to grow and thrive after he has graduated.

“This is the thing that I’m most proud of in my life so far,” Christopher said. “I know I’m making a difference. It’s changed my life.”

Alexandra Eftimie

Age: 18

City: Laguna Beach

School: Laguna Beach High School

Grade: 12

Why she is a whiz kid: Founded ArtAvatar, a nonprofit organization that sells original portraits of children in need – painted by Eftimie – to raise money for their education.

When her parents immigrated to the United States from Romania, some of the most valued possessions they brought were their art books. As a result, Eftimie grew up with a reverence for art.

When she was younger, her father would take her to art museums, and she soon began taking art classes and workshops, developing a love for portraits and figure drawing.

“I like the challenge of trying to capture a person’s likeness and the sincerity in their portrait,” Alexandra said.

As a high school freshman, she pursued an idea she called ArtAvatar (artavatar.com). She figured if she could paint the portraits of kids in need (their avatars) and then sell the portraits, the money raised would help support the kids’ education.

“I chose education because it will last,” Eftimie says. “It’s like the concept of giving a man a fish vs. giving him a fishing rod. They can’t further themselves without education.”

She reached out to a family missionary friend who took photos of six children in northern Nigeria who couldn’t afford to attend school. Eftimie painted their portraits. She also traveled to Fiji last summer, where she took photos and painted portraits of nine students in need.

In August, more than 250 people attended Eftimie’s first art show at the Seven-Degrees gallery in Laguna Beach, where she sold 14 of the oil-on-canvas paintings, raising $14,000. The money was used to fund the education of not only the 15 children whose portraits she painted, but that of several more children through scholarships.

Seeing the success of her efforts has motivated Eftimie. She plans to study art and international politics in college, but is considering taking a “gap year” to focus more energy on ArtAvatar. She wants to expand fundraising to other countries, such as Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia, and invite other artists to contribute their talents.

“It has totally exceeded my expectations,” Alexandra said of ArtAvatar. “I’m planning on doing this for as long as I can.”

As a member of the community development nonprofit organization KidWorks, Gatica participates in the program’s Youth Empowerment Network through the advocacy team Bike It! Santa Ana. Along with his sister, Maribel Mateo, and other teens, Gatica began to evaluate how bike-friendly certain areas of the city were.

“A lot of people here use bikes to commute,” Tony said. “It costs less money and is a faster way to get around.”

Collaborating with city planners, Gatica and his team surveyed 200 people in Santa Ana who use bikes as their primary mode of transportation. They learned how to use geographic information systems to map transportation patterns. After evaluating the data, the teens came up with three areas that could benefit from protected bike-lane improvements.

With the help of KidWorks, Gatica and the team worked last summer to write and submit a grant application to the state requesting funding to improve one of those areas for cyclists, a dangerous stretch of Edinger Avenue between Bristol Street and the Santa Ana River trail. It’s a path that connects residents to seven schools.

During the application process, Gatica’s father was hit and injured while riding his bike to work. The incident fueled the teen’s drive to succeed.

In October, Gatica and the team learned that the grant was approved, securing $2.37 million in funding to construct medians and other buffers along Edinger Avenue to create protected bike lanes. The project is expected to break ground next year.

With the project expected to break ground next year, the experience has inspired Tony to study civil engineering in college.

“I don’t just see what the problems are,” Tony said. “I see what the community wants and how I can make it better.”

Desmond was only 3 when she persuaded her mother to let her join a singing group, the same year TV’s singing competition “American Idol” debuted. That led to gigs and musical theater performances over the years that would prepare her for her biggest moment onstage.

Last October, she stepped in front of the “American Idol” judges during the show’s San Francisco auditions and performed the Michael Bublé version of “Fever.” Her rendition earned Desmond a coveted “golden ticket,” sending her to the Hollywood Round in the show’s final season. While she’s not allowed to reveal how her “American Idol” journey unfolds, Mary is grateful for the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream.

“It was intimidating, but I got to meet so many great people,” Mary said of the “American Idol” audition process. “It was really cool to be there and see how it all works.”

Even before appearing on “Idol,” Desmond had built a substantial fan base, with nearly 45,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and more than 2 million views of her music videos.

Proficient on the piano, guitar and ukulele, Mary is influenced artistically by the likes of Sam Smith, Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat. Mary also writes her own music and is beginning to release some of those works to her fan base, including a new single titled “Kiss You” that was produced by Colin Boyd and released on YouTube in January.

Desmond uses her talents to deliver anti-bullying messages, a cause that is close to her heart after losing a friend to suicide.

Already writing new songs for a future EP, Mary plans to head to Nashville after high school to continue her path to musical success.

“Nashville is such a great place to work on my music,” Mary said. “I want people to know who I am, listen to my music and relate to it,” she said.

Anika Ortiz

Age: 12

City: Orange

School: El Sol Science & Arts Academy

Grade: 7

Why she is a whiz kid: Opened Anika’s Pink Closet, a boutique that sells new and gently used items for girls, with a portion of proceeds supporting domestic-abuse programs.

Four years ago, Ortiz lost her sister, Alejandra Hernandez, when she was shot and killed by her estranged husband. Hernandez was 28.

Ortiz channeled her heartbreak into action by opening Anika’s Pink Closet (anikaspinkcloset.com) to engage young girls and raise money to reduce domestic violence and bullying.

Ortiz gathered used clothing and opened a pop-up boutique for girls up to age 15. Mariposa Women & Family Center offered space to Ortiz to house the boutique, and she donated 10 percent of the boutique’s earnings to the center’s domestic-violence education and counseling programs, about $1,000 so far.

“My idea has always been empowerment for girls,” Ortiz said. “I want to show girls that they don’t have to go through what my sister did.”

“I want to show the girls who they are and what they are worth, even if I can make a difference for just one girl,” Anika said.

Anika was named the 2015 outstanding youth honoree for National Philanthropy Day in Orange County and has received press attention for her efforts as well. The girl who was once shy and struggled to make friends is now bold and changing lives.

“The project has changed me,” Anika said. “It’s made me a lot more confident. I have to believe it before I can teach it.”

Her future plans for Anika’s Pink Closet involve shifting the boutique online and expanding her classes. Anika is also working on a jewelry line as well as a book about her story – all while honoring her sister’s memory.

“Knowing we are doing this in (Alejandra’s) name has been the best therapy for us,” said Anika’s mother, Maria Ortiz. “Anika does these things out of her heart, and that’s most important.”

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